Disposable tooth cleaner

ABSTRACT

A disposable tooth cleaner of the type that includes integrally formed fastening means for attaching the device to a user&#39;&#39;s finger in the form of two oppositely extending strip portions one of which is provided with hole means and the other of which is provided with integrally molded protrusion means, said protrusion means being adapted to snap into locked engagement with said hole means at various positions of adjustment when the strip portions are wrapped around the user&#39;&#39;s finger.

United States Patent Conklin, Jr.

DISPOSABLE TOOTH CLEANER Carroll C. Conklin, Jr., 722 S. Prospect St., Marion, Ohio 43302 Filed: May 24, 1972 Appl. No.: 256,392

lnventor:

US. Cl. 15/167 R, 15/227, 24/206 R Int. Cl A46b l/00 Field of Search 15/227, 167 R; 24/D1G. 16,

24/206 A, 206 R, 208 A, 16 PB References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1884 Wickers 24/206 A 7/1920 Beaumont t 24/206 R 2/1966 Schulenberg 24/208 A X [451 Mar. 26, 1974 3,583,019 6/1971 Conklin, Jr. 15/227 Primary Examiner-Peter Feidman Atlorney, Agent, or Firm-Palmer Fultz [57] ABSTRACT A disposable tooth cleaner of the type that includes integrally formed fastening means for attaching the device to a users finger in the form of two oppositely extending strip portions one of which is provided with hole means and the other of which is provided with integrally molded protrusion means, said protrusion means being adapted to snap into locked engagement with said hole means at various positions of adjustment when the strip portions are wrapped around the users finger.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAR26 1914 OOOOOO FIG. 2.

DISPOSABLE TOOTH CLEANER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to disposable tooth cleaners, and more particularly to a device of this character which includes improved means for securing the tooth cleaner to the finger of the user. This invention constitutes an improvement of disposable tooth cleaners of the type disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,583,019 issued June 8, 1971.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, as one aspect of the present invention the tooth cleaner comprises novel integrally formed fastening means for attaching the device to a users finger in the form of two oppositely extending strip portions one of which is provided with integrally molded protrusion means, said protrusion means being adapted to snap into locked engagement with hole means in the other of said strip portions at various positions of adjustment when the strip portions are wrapped around the users finger. I I

As another aspect of the present invention the tooth cleaner of the present invention is uniquely designed and adapted to consist of integrally formed component portions of synthetic resinous material that can be molded as a unit, thereby providing unusual economics in material and fabrication costs.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a disposable tooth cleaner that includes a novel integrally formed fastening means for securing the device to users fingers at various position of adjustment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved disposable tooth cleaner the components of which are uniquely arranged so as to be formable as a unit wherein said components are strongly secured together at their respective junctions.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a disposable tooth cleaner that consists of component portions uniquely adapted to be integrally molded as an integral unit thereby eliminating expensive assembly costs during fabrication of the devices.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top elevational view of the disposable tooth cleaner of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the disposable tooth cleaner of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the disposable tooth cleaner of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring in detail to the drawings the disposable tooth cleaner of the present invention comprises a body portion formed of integrally molded components of synthetic resinous material such as ethylvinylacetate or the like, which assembly includes a central platform portion 12, spaced projections 14 extending upwardly from an upper surface 16 of said platform portion, and outwardly extending strip portions 18 and 20.

The device is further provided with hole means 40 economically formed during the production thereof and in cooperation with said hole means integrally formed protrusion means 42 can be selectively inserted into said hole menas upon application of said tooth cleaner to the finger of a user.

More specifically, it will be seen that the protrusion means 42 includes an enlarged head means 44 overlying a shank portion 46 which, when forced through the hole means 40, provides secured locked engagement between the strip portions 18 and 20.

It should be pointed out that central platform portion 12 is relatively thick, as compared to the integral strip portions 18 and 20 so as to be relatively inflexible as compared to said strips whereby it will maintain said projections 14 in substantially upright disposition, with respect to platform portion 12, when the thinner and relatively flexible strips 18 and 20 are stretched into curved, adhered relationship with the users finger.

Also, it should be pointed out that the relatively thick central platform portion 12 forms a thick and relatively strong junction between the projections 14 and strip portion 18 and 20 whereby the projections are firmly retained to the strips during vigorous use of the device. 7

In the preferred embodiment illustrated the protrusion means 42 is shown as a plurality of independent protruding elements which uniquely provide, in co operation with the plurality of holes 40, a substantial amount of mounting rigidity on the users finger. With such plural arrangement the integrity of the band shape shown in FIG. 3 is maintained notwithstanding various finger configurations upon which the device can be applied.

While the form of embodiment herein shown and described, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms may be adopted falling within the scope of the claims that follow:

What is claimed is:

1. A disposable toothbrush comprising a molded one piece integrally formed elongated strip of plastic material including a centrally disposed base portion having a plurality of bristles emanating from the surface thereof, said base portion being thicker than the strip and adding rigidity thereto and serving as a strong junction between the bristles and the strip for maintaining the bristles in an upstanding orientation during the cleaning operation, a first strip portion and a second strip portion extending outwardly from opposite sides of said base portion, respectively, said first strip portion including a plurality of spaced substantially aligned hole means, said second strip portion including a plurality of integrally formed substantially aligned spaced protrusion means, said hole means and said protrusion means being disposed lengthwise and medially of said respective first and second strip portions and being substantially perpendicular to said bristle means, and each of said protrusion means including an upstanding shank portion and a yieldable enlarged head portion adapted to be forced through certain of said hole means into latched engagement therewith for securing said toothbrush to a finger of a user.

i i t t 

1. A disposable toothbrush comprising a molded one piece integrally formed elongated strip of plastic material including a centrally disposed base portion having a plurality of bristles emanating from the surface thereof, said base portion being thicker than the strip and adding rigidity thereto and serving as a strong junction between the bristles and the strip for maintaining the bristles in an upstanding orientation during the cleaning operation, a first strip portion and a second strip portion extending outwardly from opposite sides of said base portion, respectively, said first strip portion including a plurality of spaced substantially aligned hole means, said second strip portion including a plurality of integrally formed substantially aligned spaced protrusion means, said hole means and said protrusion means being disposed lengthwise and medially of said respective first and second strip portions and being substantially perpendicular to said bristle means, and each of said protrusion means including an upstanding shank portion and a yieldable enlarged head portion adapted to be forced through certain of said hole means into latched engagement therewith for securing said toothbrush to a finger of a user. 